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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Chemotaxis Using C. elegans

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Have you ever wondered what roundworms are like? Or what they don't like? Explore the sensory preferences of C. elegans through this controlled chemotaxis experiment. Biology class members brainstorm what substances might attract—or...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Memory Items

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Ready to have an "unforgettable" time in science class? Try a fun and insightful activity, suitable for a wide age group of learners. Explore how human memory works when pupils try to remember objects they've seen before comparing the...
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Lesson Plan
Beyond Benign

Medical Ethics

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Just because we have the ability to determine an organism's traits through genetic testing, should we do it? Middle-school medical experts examine the ethical dilemmas in biotechnology in the 18th and final installment in a series of...
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Unit Plan
PBS

Teacher Planning Kits for New School Routines | End of Year

For Teachers Pre-K - 12th
Support your end-of-year instruction with planning kits from PBS. Five planning kits are provided: Special Lessons and Collections; Planning Sheets for Pre-K through 5 and 6-12; Summer Bonus Resources; and Relevant Professional Learning...
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Lesson Plan
Pace University

Grade 6-8 Living Things

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What characterizes a living thing? Scholars explore the concept during a differentiated instruction unit on living things. They perform lab experiments to determine how animals adapt to stimuli, watch videos and learn about...
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Unit Plan
New York City Department of Education

Grade 8 Science: Genetic Modification of Organisms

For Teachers 8th Standards
Genetic modification is a hot topic in the science and political world. A complete unit gives learners an opportunity to research genetic modification, play an interactive genetic engineering simulation, and interact with the information...
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Interactive
Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning

MedMyst Mission 3: Nemesis at Neuropolis

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Calling all science sleuths! A patient appears to have a disease eradicated years ago—how do you treat it? Scholars must research the illness, the possible causes, and find a cure before the disease spreads and wipes out the entire city....
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Interactive
Center for Technology in Teaching and Learning

MedMyst Mission 1: Orientation at O.R.B.

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
A dozen years after a great plague wipes out the majority of Earth's civilization, a group of scientists joins together to fight infectious diseases. Scholars join the training mission and learn about viruses, bacteria, pathogens and...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

NOVA RNA Lab Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Scholars learn the differences between RNA and DNA through discussion, virtual labs, worksheets, and video quizzes. They build their knowledge of molecular biology with support from video clips and handouts.
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Interactive
PBS

RNA VirtuaLab Game

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Molecular engineers play with RNA to develop new therapies that could save lives. Young scientists fold RNA into specific shapes using the pairing rules. They apply knowledge about the relative strength of bonds and shape-shifting RNA...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

NOVA Evolution Lab Lesson Plan

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
It doesn't matter if you look on land, in the air, underground, or in water—evolution is everywhere. Scholars complete worksheets with multiple question types as they progress through six online missions creating phylogenic trees. 
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Interactive
PBS

NOVA Evolution Lab Game

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Many scholars study phylogenetic trees without understanding how they are made. Through an online game, young scientists use the given data to create phylogenetic trees of increasing complexity. They rely on the trees they create to...
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Interactive
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

CSI Wildlife

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Can DNA fingerprinting prevent the extinction of elephants? Young scientists learn about DNA fingerprinting before applying their knowledge to case studies of elephant poaching. The first case requires them to match the DNA from a tusk...
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Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Plant Structures Lab Stations

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In China, hibiscus is known as the shoe flower because it is used to polish shoes, while in Hawaii, it is honored as the state flower. Young scientists learn about the structure and function of flowers. They dissect hibiscus flowers,...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

The Monster Mash

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists create monsters by applying their knowledge of transcription and translation. They randomly find the DNA, assign it a codon, and build monsters piece by piece. 
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

The Last Supper: Identifying Macromolecules

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Why do medical examiners always state the contents of a person's stomach? Scholars learn about the importance of macromolecules through a case study of stomach contents. They perform multiple tests to determine a conclusion before they...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

"Something Old, Something New..."

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists learn about DNA replication through a video and model creation. They answer analysis questions before exploring the role of mutations and then complete a summative assessment.
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Two individuals share 99.9 percent of their genetic codes, yet diversity is observed everywhere. Young scientists learn about diversity through hands-on activities and an experiment. They apply the concepts of independent assortment and...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Frenemies, Bros and Killers: A Lesson in Symbiosis

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Animals and plants develop relationships and rely on each other to survive. Pupils learn more about symbiosis through a video, a hands-on matching activity, and a game. They differentiate and describe each type on a written evaluation.
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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Carbon and Climate

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The carbon cycle is natural and has happened for millions of years, so can humans change it? Young scientists play the role of carbon as they travel through the carbon cycle. They complete two rounds, once before the industrial...
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Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Dirty Decomposers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Do not let the class just sit and rot. Pupils learn how decomposition and nutrient recycling is important to an ecosystem. Groups design an experiment to determine how environmental conditions affect decomposition. They develop a poster...
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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Deforestation

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young scientists observe deforestation from satellite photos and discuss the importance of forests to the global environment. They then simulate a plot of forest when farmers move into the area over the course of seven years. Finally,...
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Lesson Plan
Centers for Ocean Sciences

Ocean and Great Lakes Literacy: Principle 1

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Is your current lesson plan for salt and freshwater literacy leaving you high and dry? If so, dive into part one of a seven-part series that explores the physical features of Earth's salt and freshwater sources. Junior hydrologists...